Access Control 2 – Z-Wave

It’s been a bit since I wrote anything here. We’ve been paying a great deal of attention to the Z-Wave compatible devices we can use with the Resolution panel and it’s getting in the way of the creative process.

Which is fine, actually, because our focus is on your locks and those are kind of important to get right.

To this point, Z-Wave locks have largely been created with self-keying cylinders. These cylinders are easy to key, but also are easy to pick and are extremely easy to damage… even by simply re-keying them a few times.

So we’ve been on the lookout for something a tad bit more secure, and more flexible. Our businesses require key systems, something self keying locks don’t accommodate. Our homes require reliability, something we can’t say the majority of the Z-Wave offerings provide.

Until recently, that is.

The Yale Line

This is our first introduction, on the lock side, to Home Automation. There are a lot of things we want to get familiar with, but locks just made the most sense for… you know… a locksmithing company.

The one in the picture is the YRD226-ZW. It’s the commercial grade (Grade 2) version largely intended for businesses with heavy traffic, or doors that need something more robust installed.

The other two of the most interest to us are the YRD210 and the YRD220. Both are keyed cylinders with battery power, with the real difference showing up only in the residential grade designation (Grade 3 instead of Grade 2).

There’s also a big difference in price tag. So there’s that.

These locks don’t need Z-Wave to work, but with your Resolution hub and Z-Wave enabled, you gain the ability to control or observe these locks from your smart devices no matter where you are. You don’t need to supply keys for contractors, cleaning staff, visitors or staff… just supply them a code or open the lock for them from wherever you are.

Not all of these locks come with a key way. There’s also this;

We’re aren’t quite sure what to make of this yet

Two important things to note here;

There’s no key

There’s no power to the keypad

This is entirely powered by a 9v battery. While it removes the key from the equation, it requires all of your employees/tenants/service staff to carry a 9v battery in their pocket. All they need to do is insert the battery into the bottom receptacle, wait for the lock to power up, and then insert their code.

It has its positives and it’s negatives;

Pros;

No key, so it’s unpickable

A code is required, so any audit trail you want to do through your z-wave hub is going to be 100% accurate… as long as everyone has their own code

You don’t have to worry about dead batteries, because everyone who is using the lock is using their own battery

Cons;

No key backup, so if the electronics fail we have to find another way into the room… or break the lock

You have to carry a 9v battery with you everywhere you go if you want to use the lock

There’s nothing stopping anyone from sharing codes

Don’t get me wrong… there are applications for this lock that are 100% legit. We’re treating it like a speciality item, though, until we seem a few more applications that make sense.

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